George the Poet
Spoken word artist George the Poet talks to John Wilson about his formative cultural influences.
Born George Mpanga, George the Poet is a British spoken-word artist and podcast host. Having started out as a rapper, he made his name as a spoken-word performance poet after leaving Cambridge University. His debut collection Search Party was published in 2015. The same year he was nominated for the Brits Critics Choice Award and the 大象传媒 Sound Of 2015 poll. He was also offered an MBE but declined the honour.
He launched a genre-defying podcast in 2019, which won a host of prizes including the Peabody Award, a prestigious American prize for broadcasting, becoming the first podcast from outside the States to win it. Have You Heard George鈥檚 podcast, as it鈥檚 called, interweaves stories of his own upbringing with detailed explorations of contemporary social and political issues.
George talks to John Wilson about some of his most formative cultural influences including the grammar school that taught him the essay-writing skills he still puts to use when making his podcast. He reveals how Tupac Shakur鈥檚 1998 song Changes ignited his interest in hip hop, and discusses the impact of rap and grime on his own verse. He also remembers how his local community radio station gave him his first break and encouraged the development as a performer.
Producer: Edwina Pitman
Last on
Broadcasts
- Sat 14 Oct 2023 19:15大象传媒 Radio 4
- Mon 16 Oct 2023 14:15大象传媒 Radio 4
Podcast
-
![]()
This Cultural Life
In-depth conversations with some of the world's leading artists and creatives.
